Vane type rotary devices



y 7, 1963 J. BARTOS 3,381,584

VANE TYPE ROTARY DEVICES Filed Ma 7, 1965' v' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J'osEF.Bneros INVENTOE Mwswav y 968 J. BARTOS 3,381,584

' VANE TYPE ROTARY DEVICES Filed May '7, 1965 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jose:13427-05 INVEMTOR ATTORNEY May 7, 1968 J. BARTOS I 3,381,534

VANE TYPE ROTARY DEVICES Filed May 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 so 87d Jose/B42705 INJENTOE A-r-TOIZ May 7, 1968 J BARTOS 3,381,584

VANE TYPE ROTARY DEVICES Filed May 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3'1 4 6 183180 v L. l

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,381,584 VANE TYPE ROTARY DEVICES JosefBartos, La Puente, Calif., assignor to Abegg and Reinhold Co., LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed May 7, 1965, Ser. No.454,055 Claims. (Cl. 91-104) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rotary vanetype fluid handling mechanism, especial- 1y useful as a well pipespinner, to be connected to the underside of a well swivel, androtatively drive the kelly. The device has a rotor with a plurality oflobes which coact with vanes mounted movably to an outer housing, andwith the rotor containing fluid inlet and outlet passages forintroducing pressure fluid in a relation driving the rotor and theswivel stem in either of two opposite directions.

This invention relates to improved vane type rotary fluid handlingmechanisms, such as fluid motors or pumps. The invention will bediscussed primarily as applied to fluid driven motors, but it is to beunderstood, and will be apparent, that some features of the inventionare also broadly applicable to pumps. Certain specific features of theinvention are especially concerned with the use of the unit as a wellpipe spinner, for turning an upper portion of a well string in order tomake or break a threaded joint in the string.

When a well pipe spinner is provided on a drilling rig, the spinner isusually located beneath the swivel, to turn the pipe at that location.The spinner is actuated only at certain specified times, as during ajoint making or breaking operation, and at other times remains inactive,for instance while the rotary table acts through the kelly to turn thedrill string in an actual drilling operation. In order to prevent damageto the spinner during the extended intervals when the spinner is notactually in use, conventional spinners contain clutches which act touncouple the motor of the spinner'from the well pipe, so that the lattermay turn without corresponding rotation of, and without wear of, themotor. Though this arrangement has to a certain extent served to desiredpurpose of protecting the motor against damage, the resulting structurehas had several decided disadvantages, in that it has necessitated theuse of a more complex overall spinner structure than would be desired,and one which by reason of the provision of the clutching mechanism wassubject to malfunctioning, particularly under the very high loads whichwere encountered in turning a drilling pipe.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a rotary fluidmechanism (either pneumatic or hydraulic) which may serve as a wellspinner, or serve other motor or pumping purposes, and which is soconstructed as to be convertible between an active fluid driven or fluidpumping condition and an inactive position in which the rotary elementof the device may turn without either pumping fluid or being driven byfluid. Especially contemplated is an arrangement of this type in whichno clutching means are required for coupling and uncoupling the unitwith respect to another structure, but instead in which the pump ormotor is internally convertible between the two discussed active andinactive conditions without actuation of any coacting clutch parts. Inthe active condition, the rotating portion of the mechanism may be freeto turn without substantial wear of any type between the portions of therotating and stationary sec- "ice tions of the apparatus which normallytend to experience wearing engagement.

Structurally, a rotary mechanism embodying the invention is of the vanetype, having one or more, prefer ably several, vanes which define withthe rest of the mechanism a chamber or chambers whose sizes vary as theapparatus turns about its axis. The vane or vanes, which desirably arecarried by a non-rotating section of the device, serve as partitions orsides of the chambers, and are movable in a manner compensating for thechange in size of the chambers as the rotating section of the deviceturns. An important feature of novelty of the present invention residesin the mounting of these vanes for retracting movement to inactivepositions in which they may remain as the rotating section of theapparatus turns, so that the vanes no longer serve as the discussedpartitions or sides of the fluid chamber or chambers, and the apparatustherefore loses its capacity to function as a motor or pump. When it isdesired to again convert the device to operative condition, the vane orvanes are merely actuated to their active positions in which they againserve as partitions for defining the variable size chamber or chambersas the rotating section of the apparatus turns.

In conjunction with the retractable vanes, I preferably employ means foractuating the vanes between their active and retracted positions. Forbest results, it is found desirable that the actuation to activeposition be under the influence of fluid pressure, which may be appliedto the vanes in a manner urging them from their retracted to theiractive positions. Also, means may be provided for retracting the vaneswhen desired, typically by suitable retracting springs which becomeeffective when the fluid pressure is withdrawn. The same fluid pressurewhich is utilized to drive the apparatus as a motor may be employed toautomatically actuate the vanes to active settings when the fluidpressure is first admitted to the motor.

When used as a. well pipe spinner, the motor structure is disposed abouta tubular fluid passing element, which may be connected into the drillstring at a location above the kelly and beneath the swivel. Thedrilling mud may then be forced downwardly through this tubular bodyabout which the spinner is carried.

Certain particular features of the invention relate to the preferredmanner of retention of the main body of the spinner against rotation, sothat the application of fluid pressure to the device can have the effectof turning a rotary second section of the unit and the connected drillpipe. For this purpose, I preferably utilize a connecting structurewhich extends upwardly from the spinner to the top of the swivel, andconnects to the bail by which the swivel is suspended. For best results,this connection takes the form of a flexible cable, which is connectedat its upper end to the bail and is connected at its lower end to thebody of the spinner, and which acts by virtue of the flexibility of thecable to introduce a cushioning effect into the operation of the spinnerfor preventing damage to either the spinner or the actuated well pipe orswivel.

The above and other features and objects of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a well swivel and spinner arrangementconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the spinner of FIG. 1 and taken onthe irregular line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken primarily on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the rotor taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a variational form of theinvention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary sections taken on lines 77 and 88respectively of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary axial section taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring first to FIG. 1, I have shown in that figure a well drillingrig, including a rotary table It} through which a non-circular kelly 11extends in rotatively driven relation. The drill string is connected inthe usual manner to the lower end of kelly 11, and is driven thereby.The string is suspended by a conventional elevator assembly 12, takingthe form of a block and tackle which is power actuated and whose cable13 carries a suspending hook 14. Hook 14 in turn suspends a swivel 15beneath which there is provided a spinner 16 with which the presentinvention is primarily concerned.

Swivel 15 includes an outer non-rotating body 17 from which a bail 18projects upwardly for reception about and suspension by hook 14. Theswivel also includes a rotating vertically extending tubular element orspindle represented at 19, mounted by suitable bearings for rotationrelative to and within housing 17 about the vertical axis 20 of thewell. Drilling mud or fluid is fed into the upper end of tubular spindle19 of the swivel through a gooseneck 21, which receives the fluid from aflexible supply hose 22. The lower end 23 of spindle 1? projectsdownwardly beneath body 17 of the swivel, and has a threaded end portion24 which is connectible to spinner 16. The inner passage 25 throughtubular spindle 19 extends vertically along the entire length of thatspindle, to carry the drilling fluid downwardly to the lower end 23 ofthe spindle for discharge from that lower end into the spinner.

To describe now the structure of the spinner itself, reference is madeparticularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. From these figures, it will beapparent that the spinner includes a main vertically extending shortpipe section 26 having an internally threaded box end 27 at its upperend into which the externally threaded lower end portion 24 of spindle19 of the swivel is connected in supporting and fluid conductingrelation. At its lower end, the pipe section 26 has an externallythreaded pin portion 28 which is connected to the upper end of the wellstring,'typically by connection into an upper box end of a tubularkellycock section 29 containing a valve at 30 for closing off the flowof fluid through the string if desired. Pipe section 26 of coursecontains a vertically extending passage 31 (FIG. 2), through which thedrilling fluid may pass downwardly from the spindle for delivery to andthrough kelly-cock section 29 into kelly 11 and the connected drillstring. During a drilling operation, the central short pipe sectionportion 26 of spinner 16 turns with the rest of the drill string and thespindle of the swivel, with this entire structure being driven by rotarytable 10.

The threaded joint between pipe sections 26 and 29 may be locked againstaccidental detachment, as by a suitable locking ring structure 126(FIGS. 1 and 2). This structure may include a sleeve 127 containingtapered pipe gripping slips 128 which are tightenable against both ofthe pipes 26 and 29 by end rings 129 (which are actuable by screws 130).A similar device 126a may lock section 29 against unscrewing motionrelative to kelly 11.

About section 26, the spinner 16 forms and functions as a fluid actuatedmotor 31, having its rotor 32 mounted to turn with and drive section 26,and also having an outer non-rotating housing or main body structure 33.Actuating air or other pressure fluid is fed to the housing 33 througheither of two air inlet lines 34 or 35, the former of which admits airfor forward or right hand rotation of the drill string, while the latter(line 35) admits air for reverse or left hand rotation of the drillstring. A reversing or selector valve represented at 36 in FIG. 1selectively connects lines 34 and 35 respectively to an air inlet line37. As will be understood, when one of the lines 34 or 35 is connectedto the air source line 37, the other of the two lines 34 or 35 issuitably connected to atmosphere for discharge thereto through valve 36.Also, the selector valve 36 of course has an off position, in whichactuating air is not supplied to either of the two lines 34 or 35'.

The rotor 32 of the air driven motor has a tubular vertically extendinghub portion 38 (FIG. 2), containing a vertically extending cylindricalpassage 39 which closely receives an outer cylindrical surface 4% of thecentral pipe section 26 of the spinner. The rotor is keyed to section 26for rotation therewith by means of a key represented at 41, havingportions extending into opposed axially extending key-ways 42 in section26 of rotor 32. The rotor is defined peripherally by a verticallyextending outer surface 43, which in horizontal cross section has thenon-circular configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Moreparticularly, outer surface 43 may have a plurality of (desirably three)maximum diameter lobe portions 44, which are evenly circularly spaced,and between which surface 43 progressively reduces in diameter to aminimum diameter location 45, and then progressively increases indiameter to the next successive lobe 44. Surface 43 may be considered ascontinuous entirely about the periphery of the rotor, and as verticallycontinuous between two horizontal non-rotating surfaces 46 and 47 (FIG.2), except insofar as surface 43 is interrupted at the locations ofcertain air inlet and discharge passages which will be discussed indetail at a later point in this description.

The outer housing 33 of the spinner includes a main section 48 having abottom annular wall 49 and a radially outer vertically extending wall50. The housing also includes a top cover plate or element 51, which isessentially annular except for the provision of an automatic valvestructure 52 at one side thereof, and which extends across the upperside of housing section 48 to form therewith an essentially annularspace within which the rotor turns. Housing sections 48 and 51 arerigidly secured together in any convenient manner, as by screwsrepresented at 53 in FIGS. 2 and 3. These screws may extend downwardlythrough top plate 51 and into a series of evenly circularly spacedradially inwardly projecting walls 54- which are integral with andproject from outer wall of housing part 48.

The rotor 32 and its connected rotating central pipe section 26 aremounted for rotation relative to housing 33 by means of two upper andlower roller thrust bearings 55 and 56, whose outer races bear againstupper and lower shoulders 57 and 58 on the housing to prevent upward ordownward movement of the housing relative to section 26. The inner raceof bearing 56 is confined between a shoulder 59 on section 26 and thelower end of rotor 32, and the inner race of bearing 55 is confinedbetween the upper end of the rotor and a snap ring 60 contained within agroove in section 26, all in a manner preventing axial movement ofeither of the bearings relative to section 26. Two resilient annularseal elements 61 and 62 may be carried by annular plates 63 and 64,which may be retained to the housing by screws 65 and 66, to prevent theadmission of any dirt, dust, or the like to the bearings or the interiorof the motor. Similarly, two resilient annular seal rings 67 and 68 maybe provided at the second sides of the bearings, and between the rotorand the outer housing of the spinner to further protect the bearings andretain lubricant therein.

At a location spaced radially inwardly from outer cylindrical wall 50 ofthe housing, the housing structure rigidly carries an essentiallycylindrical wall 69 centered about axis 20 and containing a series ofevenly circularly spaced slots or passages extending radially throughwall 69. Slots 89 thus divide wall 63 into a series of arcuate partialcylindrical wall segments 81 (FIG. 3), which may be held together byproviding wall 69 at its lower end with an annular flange 73 which isintegral with wall 69 and extends radially inwardly therefrom. The part69-73 may be suitably secured to part 48 of the housing by screws (FIG.2), and to top plate 51 of the housing by screws 71 (FIGS. 2 and 3).Wall 69 and its segments 81 form a series of partial cylindricalsurfaces 72, which are centered about the main vertical axis 20 of thespinner and well, and are of a diameter corresponding substantially tothe maximum diameter 44 of the rotor. Surfaces 72 extend verticallybetween the two previously mentioned surfaces 46 and 47 of FIG. 2 todefine therewith a cylindrical space within which the rotor turns. Thesurface 46 at the bottom of the space may if desired be formed on theabove discussed flange 73 on wall 69.

The wall 69 movably carries a series of evenly circularly spaced vanes75 (FIG. 3), each of which may take the form essentially of a fiatvertically extending rigid member, lying and moving in one of a seriesof planes 76 extending radially outwardly from and containing axis 20.As viewed in these planes, the vanes have the rectangular vertical crosssection illustrated in FIG. 2. As viewed in a horizontal plane, thevanes also have an essentially rectangular but radially elongated crosssection (FIG. 3), but with this cross section being rounded at theradially inner edges 77 of the vanes. The horizontal cross section ofthe vanes illustrated in FIG. 3 continues along the entire verticalheight of the vanes, between surfaces 46 and 47, with each of the vaneshaving upper and lower horizontal parallel surfaces 78 and 79 whichslidably engage housing surfaces 47 and 46 respectively. The innerrounded vertically extending edge 77 of each vane engages the outersurface 43 of the rotor along a vertical line extending between surfaces46 and 47, to form a fluid seal therewith.

Each of the vanes 75 may be slidably mounted for movement relative tothe housing radially inwardly and ,outwardly, as between the broken lineand full line positions of FIG. 3, by sliding reception of each vanewithin one of the radially extending vertical slots 80 formed in ring69. The surfaces 82 which form slots 80 extend vertically betweensurfaces 46 and 47 of FIG. 2, and slidably engage the opposite sidesurfaces 83 of the vanes continuously between those surfaces, to form aneffective fluid seal between the vanes and ring 69, to confine actuatingair against escape radially outwardly past the vanes and into thechambers 84 formed between walls 54 of the housing. The vanes may beyieldingly urged radially outwardly to a position in which their innercurved surfaces 77 are at substantially the same diameter as innersurface or surfaces 72 of ring 69, with this effect typically beingattained by leaf springs 85, whose opposite ends may be connected towalls 54 and the outer extremities of the vanes respectively. Thesprings 85 are however sufliciently yieldable to enable the vanes to beactuated radially inwardly against the influence of the springs by theaction of air pressure applied to the radially outer surfaces 86 of thevanes, within outer chambers 84 in the housing formed between walls 54.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, there are formed by the housing, rotor,and vanes, a series of chambers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d, etc. (betweensuccessive vanes), which progressively change in volume or size as therotor turns. Compressed air is fed to these chambers through two annularpassages 88 and 89 in rotor 32, passage 88 being utilized for right handrotation of the motor and drill string, and passage 89 being utilizedfor left hand rotation. As seen best in FIGS. 2 and 4, passage 88communicates with certain specified ones of the chambers 87a about therotor through three radially outwardly extending passages 90, which mayflare outwardly as seen in FIG. 4, and may have a circular extent justslightly less than the circular distance between two successive vanes75. These three passages 90 communicate with the space radially betweenthe rotor and wall segments 69 at locations just circularly behind(offset in a counter-clockwise direction from) the maximum diameterportions 44 of outer surface 43 of the rotor. The second annular passage89 similarly communicates with the space at the outside of the rotorthrough three passages 91 (of a circular extent slightly less than thespacing between successive vanes 75), with these passages 91 being atthe leading side of maximum diameter locations 44, that is, offsetslightly from those maximum diameter locations in a clockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 3. At the minimum diameter or radius portions 45 ofthe rotor surfaces 43, there are provided a number of air dischargepassages 92 (FIGS. 2 and 3), which conduct air radially inwardly intothe interior of the rotor, and into chambers or cavities 93 formed inthe rotor from which the air may dis-charge through an annular clearancespace 94 between the rotor and housing, and into a series of air outletpassages 95 leading past screens 96 to the outside of the apparatus.

To describe now the manner in which air is delivered to rotor passages88 and 89, it will be seen in FIG. 2 that there are provided at theupper ends of these passages a pair of annular typically rubber sealrings 97 and 98, which rest in annular recesses in the upper surface ofthe rotor, and which contain circularly spaced apertures 99 throughwhich air may pass downwardly into passages 88 and 89. Rings 97 and 98annularly engage both the rotor and the upper housing plate or cover 51,and communicate with two arcuate air delivery passages 100 and 101 incover 51 to receive air therefrom. Air is in turn delivered to passage100 through a pressure regulating and pressure reducing valve 130(having an adjusting handle 131), which receives air from a passage 102leading from valve unit 52 (FIG. 3). Similarly, air is delivered toarcuate passage 101 through a second adjustable pressure regulating andpressure reducing valve 132 and a passage 103 from an opposite side ofvalve unit 52. Passage 102 receives air from inlet hose 34, and passage103 receives air from inlet hose 35. Disposed transversely acrosspassages 102 and 103, the material of cover 51 forms and contains acylindrical slide valve bore 104, within which there is slidablymounted, for movement along transverse axis 105, a slide valve element106 having two enlarged heads 107 and 108 interconnected by a reduceddiameter shaft 109. Springs 110 bear against heads 107 and 108respectively, and against a central reduced diameter partition 111 inpassage 104, to normally yieldingly retain valve element 106 in the FIG.3 position. In that position, heads 107 and 108 prevent the admission ofany air through passage 102 or 103, and past valve head 107 and 108, tothe rotor. The valve in this setting does, however, admit some airthrough a by-pass passage 112 into an end chamber 113, from which theair may flow downwardly through a passage 114 which is partially but notcompletely covered by head 107. This passage extends downwardly from thebottom side of the bore 104, and conducts some air downwardly into oneof the chambers 84 at the outside of the vanes. A similar passage 114 isprovided at the opposite end of valve element 105, being normallypartially covered by head 108 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and being incommunication with air supplied through hose 35.

The housing or main body structure 48 of spinner 16 is preferablyretained against rotation by connection to the non-rotating apparatus atthe upper end of the swivel. More particularly, it is preferred that thehousing 48 be retained against rotation by means of a flexible (wirerope) cable 115 (FIG. 1), whose lower end is connected to an integrallug 116 projecting outwardly from housing 48, and whose upper end may beconnected to a similar lug or arm 117 on a bracket 118 which is rigidlyclamped onto bail 18 of the swivel.

To now describe the manner in which the spinner 16 is utilized, it maybe first pointed out that the spinner device, as seen in FIG. 2, forms aunitary structure carried by its central pipe section 26, whichstructure may be connected into the well string at a location beneaththe swivel by merely breaking the usual connection between kelly-cocksection 29 and swivel spindle 23, and connecting section 26 in at thatlocation. The cable 115 may then be attached at its upper and lower endsto the spinner body and the swivel bail to complete the assembly.

After the spinner has been installed, the rotary table 10 and otherapparatus may be employed in completely conventional manner to drill thewell, without interference of any type by the presence of the spinnerunit. During such normal drilling, when the spinner 16 is not beingemployed for turning the well string, vanes '75 are all retained intheir radially outermost positions, in which their inner curved ends '77are substantially aligned circularly with inner surface 72 of thehousing. The vanes are retained in these positions by springs 85, andwhen so located may be just slightly outwardly of the cylinder definedby surface '72, so that there is no engagement of any of the vanes withany portion of the rotor as the rotor turns. Thus, the rotor is free toturn without contacting the vanes, and without damage to or wear ofeither the vanes or the rotor. Also, it is preferred that the extremeoutermost portions 44 of the rotor be very slightly spaced from even thesurface or surfaces 72 themselves, the spacing typically being on theorder of a few thousandths of an inch, say for example 1 to 4thousandths, so that the rotor peaks and the hous ing surface 72 arethemselves not worn.

When it is desired to spin section 26 of the spinner device, and theconnected portions of the drill string, in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 3, valve 36 of FIG. 1 is actuated to admit air throughhose 34 to slide valve assembly 52. This air initially is blocked byslide valve head 107 against admission to the rotor, but may immediatelypass, at full line pressure, through passage 112 into the partiallyexposed passage 114, from which it passes into one of the chambers 84within which the outwardly retracted vanes are contained. All of thesevarious chambers 84 (FIG. 3) are in communication with one another, asby provision of cutaways or recesses 119 in radial walls 54- (see FIG.2), so that the admission of air to one of the chambers 84 admits air toall of these chambers. This air acts radially inwardly against outerfaces 86 of the vanes 75, to pneumatically actuate each of these vanesradially inwardly until its inner curved end 77 contacts the radiallyopposite portion of rotor surface 43 (full line positions of the vanesin FIG. 3).

The admission of air to chamber 113 at the end of the slide valve 1%also has the effect of actuating head 107 of the slide valve toward thecentral divider 111, to thus, after a predetermined delay period duringwhich slide valve 1% is being moved, allow air to pass through passage102 and pressure reducer 135i) into arcuate passage 10d, and from thatpassage downwardly into annular passage 83, and from that annularpassage radially outwardly through the three rotor passages 96 intothree of the intervane chambers at the outside of the rotor. Forexample, air is admitted through one of the passages tl to the chamberdesignated 87d at the right side of FIG. 3. The air in this and theother two similarly located chambers causes the three chamberscorresponding to 87d of FIG. 3 to tend to increase in size, with thisresult being attained by rotation of the rotor in a clockwise direction,as viewed in FIG. 3. As soon as passage 90 comes into communication withthe next successive inter-vane chamber, it also tends to increase thetendency for right hand or clockwise rotation. Thus, so long as anychamber is in communication with one of the passages 90, that chamber iseffective as a driving force for producing clockwise rotation.Immediately after the trailing end of one of the passages 9% passes oneof the vanes 75, and thus leaves its position of communication with oneof the inter-vane chambers (as has occurred in the case of chamber 87cin FIG. 3, for example), the discharge apertures 92 at one of theminimum radius locations 45 move into communication with that chamher toallow the compressed air to discharge therefrom to atmosphere. After thedischarging operation is completed, the chamber is in readiness forreception of actuating air when the next successive feed passage 96moves into communication with the chamber.

Valve res preferably introduces a delay between the initial delivery ofair to outer chambers 84 and the subsequent delivery of air to rotorchamber 37a etc., with this delay being sufiicient to enable the vanesto be actuated inwardly against the rotor before the latter commences toturn. Also, pressure regulator 130 reduces the pressure of the airadmitted to chambers 87a, 37b, etc. sufficiently beneath the pressure ofair in chambers 84 to assure that the latter will always be capable ofmaintaining the vanes inwardly against the rotor, and against thereverse tendency of the pressure in chambers 87a, 8712, etc. Forexample, if the line pressure which is supplied to chambers 84 is 100p.s.i., regulator 13% may be set to reduce this pressure to a value of80 p.s.i. in chambers 87a etc.

When it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the rotor,air is admitted through hose 35 to the outer side of valve head 108, toagain be delivered through one of the passages 114 to the chambers 84,whose pressurization (at full line pressure) acts to displace the vanesradially inwardly from their inactive positions to their activepositions of engagement with the rotor, following which the air actingagainst head 10? moves that head to a position in which it will pass airthrough regulator 132 into arcuate passage 101 (at reduced pressure) andthrough that passage into the annular passage 89 in the rotor, to flowoutwardly through three passages 91 of the rotor. These passages are solocated as to communicate with inter-vane chambers at the clocnwise sideof maximum diameter portions 44 of rotor surface 43, to cause left handor counter-clockwise rotation of the rotor in a manner which will beapparent from the above discussion of the clockwise driving action. Thesame discharge passages 92 act to discharge the expanded air from theinter-vane chambers after it has been utilized.

When air is being admitted to the rotor through passage 1tl2 of valve5'2, head 108 of the valve allows air to discharge from the chamberswhich are in communication with passages 91 of the rotor, throughpassage 1%, and through hose 35 to the atmosphere discharge outlet ofvalve 36. Similarly, when air is admitted through passage 103, itdischarges from the opposite side of the rotor through passage 102 inline 34.

If the speed of rotation of the rotor in either direction becomesexcessive, due to an excessive increase in pressure, the vanes may beunable to return radially inwardly rapidly enough to always maintainfull contact with the rotor, and as a result some leakage past theblades may occur in a manner automatically limiting the maximum speed ofthe rotor and preventing damage thereto.

The cable connection 115 between the spinner and the upper end of theswivel introduces some flexibility into the spinner operation, so thatwhenever the spinner is energized to drive in a particular direction,the housing of the spinner may rotate very slightly in the oppositedirection, being restrained ultimately by flexible cable 115 afterrotation through a few circular degrees, to thus remove any excessiveshock which might otherwise be introduced into the apparatu by suddenchange in condition. Also, it is found desirable to connect the spinnerhousing to the swivel ball as discussed, rather than to the underside ofthe non-rotating portion 17 of the swivel, in view of the difiicultyoften encountered in attempting to connect to the underside of theswivel, and the damage which may be incurred by the swivel housin g inmaking such a connection.

FIGS. 6 through 9 show another form of spinner constructed in accordancewith the invention, and which may be considered as essentially the sameas the spinner 16 of FIGS. 1 through 5 except with respect to thespecific differences discussed in detail below. As best seen in FIG. 6,the spinner 140 has a housing 141 formed of a main hollow lower section142 and a cover 143. Rotor 144 is of the same shape as the rotor inFIGS. 1 through 5, and coacts with a series of circularly spaced vanes145 mounted for radial sliding movement Within slots 146 formed within acylindrical wall 147 corresponding to wall 69 of the first form of theinvention. This wall 147 has a lower integral flange portion 148corresponding to flange 73 of FIG. 2, to define with the cover 143 andthe rotor a series of chambers 187a, 187b, etc. such as those shown at87a, 87b, etc. in FIG. 3.

As seen best in FIG. 9, the two housing sections 142 and 143 are securedrigidy together by bolts 149. The slotted ring 147 and its flange 148are secured in fixed position relative to cover 143 by a series ofelongated vertically extending bolts (FIGS. 8 and 9), which extenddownwardly through ring 147 and connect at their lower ends into aretaining ring 151 bearing upwardly against the underside of ring 147,at a location radially outwardly of flange 143. Elements 148 and 151 maybe sealed annularly with respect to the housing by suitable O-ringsrepresented at 152 and 153. Air may be delivered selectively to eitherof two annular inlet passages 154 and 155 in the rotor, as in the firstform of the invention, and air may be discharged from the rotor throughoutlet chambers 156 leading to atmosphere at 157. The underside of therotor may be sealed with respect to flange 148 by means of anelastomeric seal ring 158, received within a suitable annular groove 159in flange 148.

A particular feature of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6through 9 resides in the manner in which the rotor is mounted rotativelydirectly to the housing, rather than to the main pipe section 16% aboutwhich the device is carried. More particularly, the cover 143 of thehousing may have a downwardly projecting annular portion 161 forengaging the inner race of a roller bearing 162, whose outer race isengaged within ar annular recess 163 formed in the upper side of rotor144. Similarly, the bottom wall of the housing may have an upwardlyprojecting annular portion 165 engaging the outer race of a rollerbearing 165, whose inner race is received and confined within an annularrecess 166 formed in the underside of the rotor. Vertically between therecesses 163 and 166, the rotor may have a radially inwardly projectingannular portion 167 which is received about the outer surface of pipesection 161 and is keyed against rotation relative thereto by means of akey 168 received within a key way 161 in section 161 and within a splinerecess 170 extending axially within the rotor. The key 168 issufficiently loose within the spline recess 171) to allow very slightaxial movement of the rotor relative to the key and therefore relativeto section 160, as necessary to allow bearings 162 and 165 to alwaysremain concentric with main bearings 171 and 172 which mount the mainhousing to section 166.

To minimize wear on the lower bearing 165', and to prevent any tendencyfor locking of the rotor in the housing chamber if such wear does occur,I preferably spring urge the rotor of FIG. 6 upwardly relative to thehousing and against upper rotor bearing 162. For this purpose, there isprovided at the underside of portion 167 of the rotor an annular ring173, which bears downwardly against the outer race of bearing 165 at174, and against which yielding force is exerted downwardly by a seriesof evenly circularly spaced coil springs 175 received within evenlycircularly spaced circular recesses 176 formed in the underside ofportion 167 of the rotor. These springs 175 are always maintained undercompression, and exert an upward force on the rotor equal to asubstantial portion of the weight of the rotor, preferably between aboutand 75% of the weight of the rotor, and for optimum results about 50% ofthat weight. As will be apparent, of one of the two bearings 162 orwears in a manner tending to introduce looseness into the bearingmounting for the rotor, this looseness is compensated for by springs175, which urge the two races of each of the bearings together withsufiicient force to prevent any tendency for wobble of the rotor withinthe housing.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 6 through 9, the vane returning springs 85of FIG. 3 have been deleted, and in their place I have provided frictionunits 177 (FIGS. 6 and 7) carried by the various vanes and acting tointroduce suflicient friction into the vane movement to maintain thevanes in their radially outer positions except when they are forciblyurged inwardly by actuating air pressure.

For receiving units 177, each of the vanes contains a circular openingor passageway 178 centered about an axis 179 which is disposedtransversely of the plane 179 of the vane, and therefore the plane ofmovement of the vane. Within cylindrical passageway 178, there areprovided two desirably bronze buttons or discs 18!) having outercylindrical surfaces 181 which are close fits within passage 178. Eachof these buttons carries a facing disc 181', also typically circular andreceived and located within a circular recess 182 in the associatedbutton. The two buttons or discs are yieldingly urged away from oneanother by two annular spring washers 183 which are received withinshallow opposed recesses 1114 in the discs 189, and urge the discs apartwith sufficient force and far enough to cause the outer planar surfaces185 of elements 181' to press lightly against the inner surfaces 186 ofthe radial slot in wall or ring 147 within which the vane is slidablyreceived. The light spring pressed engagement of elements 181 withsurfaces 186 thus serves the intended purpose of yieldingly retainingeach vane in its radially outermost position except when air pressureapplied to the outer end of the vane forceably actuates it radiallyinwardly. Preferably, elements 181 are of a material which is notreadily subject to wear, and whose friction is sufficiently low to avoidthe introduction of inefliciencies into the operation of the apparatus.For this purpose, I prefer to utilize a suitable fluorocarbon, such astetrafluoroethylene, as sold under the trademark Teflon.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 isof course essentially the same as the first form of the invention,except in the particular respects discussed above, and therefore willnot be described further except by reference to the operation of thefirst form of the invention.

I claim:

1. A well pipe spinner for use with a swivel having a non-rotating bodysuspended from an elevator, and having a rotating spindle; said spinnercomprising a power actuated drive unit beneath said swivel bodyconnected to said spindle in driving relation, said drive unit having afirst section and having a second section which turns relative to thefirst section and drives the spindle, and including motor means fordriving said second section relative to the first section, a flexiblecable structure for holding said first section against rotation andadapted to extend upwardly from beneath said swivel body and connect toa non-rotating element, and bearing means connecting said second sectionto said first section for rotation relative thereto and including thrustbearing means supporting the weight of said first section from saidsecond section so that said cable structure is not required to supportsaid weight.

2. A well pipe spinner for use with a swivel having a non-rotating bodywith an upwardly projecting bail to be suspended from an elevator, andhaving a rotating spindle; said spinner comprising .a power actuateddrive unit beneath said swivel body connected to said spindle in drivingrelation, said drive unit having a first section and having a secondsection which turns relative to the first section and is connectible toand drives the spindle, and including motor means for driving saidsecond section relative to the first section, a structure for holdingsaid first section against rotation and adapted to extend from beneathsaid swivel body and upwardly past a portion of said body and connect tosaid bail, and bearing means connecting said second section to saidfirst section for rotation relative thereto and including thrust bearingmeans supporting the weight of said first section from said secondsection so that said structure for holding said first section againstrotation is not required to support said weight.

3. A well pipe spinner for use with a swivel having a rotating spindle;said spinner comprising a power actuated drive unit beneath said swivelconnectible to said spindle in driving relation, said drive unit havinga first section and having a second section which turns relative to thefirst section and drives the spindle, and including motor means fordriving said second section, a structure for holding said first sectionagainst rotation and having substantial flexibility for enabling limitedrotative motion thereof, and additional means for supporting the weightof said first section other than through said flexible structure so thatsaid flexible structure is not required to support said weight.

4. A vane type fluid motor comprising a body containing a chamber, arotor mounted in said chamber to rotate relative to the body, said rotorhaving a plurality of lobes projecting toward a wall of said chamber andhaving portions at the leading and trailing sides of the lobes which arespaced farther from said wall to vary the spacing between said rotor andsaid wall as the rotor turns, at least one vane movably carried by saidbody and projecting from said wall into said chamber and into engagementwith said rotor and forming with said body and rotor at least onecompartment which varies in size as the rotor turns, inlet means forconducting pressure fluid to said compartment in a relation driving therotor, said inlet means including two fluid inlet passages in the rotorto which fluid may be supplied selectively to drive the rotor inopposite directions, and two inlet openings formed in and turning withthe rotor through which said passages respectively communicate with thespace between said rotor and said chamber wall, said openings beingcircularly between two successive lobes and near said two successivelobes respectively, and being positioned to drive said rotor in saidopposite directions when pressure fluid is supplied to said two passagesrespectively, said openings being positioned to move past said vane andcoact therewith in valving relation so that until one of said openingsreaches said vane that opening communicates with a first side of thevane, and after said opening passes the vane the opening communicateswith the opposite side of the vane, and said motor including a thirdpassage in the rotor serving as a fluid outlet passage and communicatingwith the space between said rotor and said chamber wall at a locationcircularly between said two inlet openings, and also coacting with saidvane in valving relation, each of said inlet openings being locatedcircularly between one of said two successive lobes and the point ofcommunication of said outlet passage with said space.

5. Well apparatus including a swivel, a spinner connected to saidswivel, a rotary table, and a kelly which is to be turned selectively byeither said spinner or said rotary table, said spinner including a vanetype fluid motor having a first section and having a rotor section whichis driven rotatably relative to said first section by pressure fluid andwhich turns with said kelly, at least one vane forming a partitionbetween said sections defining a side of a compartment which changesprogressively in size as the rotor section turns, said vane beingmounted movably to one of said sections, and projecting into engagementwith the other section and being shiftable relative to said one sectionin retracting and projecting directions in accordance with and incompensation for said change in size of said compartment, means operablewhen the rotor section is being driven by said pressure fluid toyieldingly urge said vane in said projecting direction and intoengagement with said other section continuously as the rotor sectionturns through a series of complete revolutions, and means operable whensaid rotor section is driven by the rotary table to maintain said vanein a predetermined retracted position and out of engagement with theother section.

6. Well apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said first mentionedmeans includes means operable, when the rotor section is being driven bythe fluid, to urge the vane into engagement with said other section bythe pressure of said fluid, and said second mentioned means includes aspring for maintaining the vane in said retracted position upon releaseof the pressure of said fluid.

7. Well apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which there are a pluralityof said vanes mounted slidably to said first section and projectingradially inwardly into engagement with said rotor section and defining aseries of said compartments, said rotor section having a plurality ofcircularly spaced radially outwardly projecting lobes engaging saidvanes.

S. A well pipe spinner for use with a swivel and a kelly comprising atubular body to extend generally vertically along an axis and having anupper threaded end for connection to the stern of a swivel and having alower threaded end for connection to a kelly, said body containing avertical passage for conducting circulating fluid from a swivel to akelly, means forming a rotor structure about the outside of said tubularbody adapted to turn about said axis with said tubular body and to driveit and a kelly rotatively about said axis, a housing structure disposedabout said tubular body and about said rotor structure and containing agenerally annular chamber extending about the tubular body and withinwhich said rotor structure turns, at least one vane movably carried byone of said structures and projecting into sliding engagement with theother structure and defining a side of a fluid compartment which changesprogressively in size as the rotor structure and kelly turn, means forretaining said housing structure against rotation about said axis, andinlet means for introducing pressure fluid into said compartment in arelation to drive the rotor structure about said axis.

9. Well apparatus comprising a swivel having a tubular stem, 9. kelly,and a spinner including a tubular body extending generally verticallyalong an axis and having an upper end connected to the swivel stem and alower end connected to said kelly, said body containing a gen erallyvertical passage for conducting circulating fluid from said swivel tothe kelly, said spinner including means forming a rotor structure aboutthe outside of said tubular body adapted to turn about said axis withsaid tubular body and to drive it and the kelly rotatively about saidaxis, a housing structure disposed about said tubular body and aboutsaid rotor structure and containing a generally annular chamberextending about the tubular body and within which said rotor structureturns, at least one vane movably carried by one of said structures andprojecting into sliding engagement with the other structure and defininga side of a fluid compartment which changes progressively in size as therotor structure and kelly turn, means for retaining said housingstructure against rotation about said axis, and inlet means forintroducing pressure fluid into said compartment in a relation to drivethe rotor structure about said axis.

10. Well apparatus as recited in claim 9, in which said inlet meansinclude two pressure fluid inlets operable to introduce pressure fluidinto said housing structure at locations to drive the rotor structureand kelly in either of two opposite directions.

11. Well apparatus as recited in claim 9, in which said inlet meansinclude a pressure fluid inlet passage formed in the rotor structure,and an opening formed in and 13 turning with the rotor structure forconducting fluid from said inlet passage to said compartment.

'12. Well apparatus comprising a swivel having a tubular stem, a kelly,and a spinner including a tubular body extending gene-rally verticallyalong an axis and having an upper end threadedly connected to the swivelstem and a lower end threadedly connected to said kelly, said bodycontaining a generally vertical passage for conducting circulating fluidfrom said swivel to the kelly, and a vane type fluid motor disposedabout said tubular body and including a hollow housing containing agenerally annular chamber extending about said tubular body, a rotordisposed about said body and contained within said chamber and mountedto turn therein about said axis and to drive said body rotatively, saidrotor having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting lobes andhaving portions of reduced radius therebetween, a plurality of vanesmounted to said housing and projecting generally radially inwardly intosliding engagement with the rotor and movable generally radially inretracting and projecting directions as the rotor turns, said vanesdividing said chamber into a series of compartments which vary in sizeas the rotor turns, means for retaining said housing against rotation,and means for introducing pressure fluid into said compartments atlocations to drive the rotor and body rotatively.

13. Well apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said pressure fluidintroducing means include two inlet passages in the rotor, a first setof openings in the rotor for leading fluid from one of said inletpassages into said compartments at first sides of said lobes and in arelation driving the rotor in a first direction, and a second set ofopenings in the rotor for leading fluid from the other of said inletpassages into said compartments at second sides of the lobes and in arelation driving the rotor in the opposite direction.

14. A vane type fluid handling mechanism comprising a first section, asecond section mounted to rotate about an axis relative to said firstsection, at least one vane forming a partition between the sectionsdefining a side of a chamber which changes progressively in size as saidsecond section rotates, means forming a guideway having spaced sidewalls and slidably receiving said vane and mounting it for slidingshifting movement between said side walls relative to one of saidsections in accordance with and in compensation for said change in sizeof said chamber, said vane being free to retract within said guideway toa predetermined inactive position in which it no longer forms saidpartition between the sections, and being free to remain in thatinactive position as said second section turns, said vane containing anopening extending en'tire- 1y through the vane between said walls, twofriction elements carried in said opening and y'ieldingly bearingagainst said two side Walls respectively to frictionally retain saidvane in said inactive position, and a spring between said two elementsand urging them apart and against said side walls.

15. A vane type motor comprising a body containing a chamber, a rotormounted in said chamber to rotate relative to the body, said rotorhaving a radially outer surface defining a plurality of radiallyoutwardly projecting lobes extending into close proximity to an outerwall of said chamber, said rotor surface having portions circularlybetween the maximum radius portions of said lobes and which are spacedfarther from said wall to vary the spacing between said rotor and saidwall as the rotor turns, a plurality of circularly spaced vanes mountedto said body for generally radial movement relative thereto andprojecting from said wall into said chamber and into engagement withsaid rotor surface and forming with said rotor and body a plurality ofcompartments which change in size as the rotor turns, two fluid inletpassages in the rotor to which pressure fluid may be suppliedselectively to drive the rotor in opposite directions, a first set ofinlet openings in the rotor at first sides of the lobes respectively forplacing a first of said passages in communication with different ones ofsaid compartments in a relation to drive the rotor in one of saiddirections, a second set of inlet openings in the rotor at the oppositesides of the lobes respectively for placing the second passage incommunication with diflerent ones of said compartments in a relation todrive the rotor in the opposite direction, and an outlet passage formedin and turning with said rotor and communicating with said compartmentsat locations between successive lobes and circularly between an openingof said first set of openings and an opening of said second set ofopenings and operable to discharge said fluid from the compartments.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,171 7/1883 Corbin 91-104459,861 9/1891 Taylor 91-104 679,129 7/1901 Smith 91104 2,020,98711/1935 Ayres 230-138 2,483,696 10/1949 Giera 188-83 X 2,488,107 11/1949Abegg 166-775 2,642,160 6/1953 Bedf-ord 188-171 2,663,995 12/1953 Price91104 X 3,029,794 4/1962 Rystrom 91-138 X 3,102,494 9/1963 Adams 91-138X 3,212,578 10/1965 Hasha 166-775 X 3,225,786 12/1965 Elliott 91-138 X594,924 12/ 1897 Woodard 91-105 2,507,151 5/1950 Gabriel 91-1052,720,803 10/1955 Rice 91-58 X 2,835,517 5/1958 Beerli 287-52 2,891,7716/1959 Ashton -53 3,214,224 10/1965 Lash 308-1891 X FOREIGN PATENTS210,439 5/ 1957 Australia.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

G. BAUM, Assistant Examiner.

